USA Wrestling has announced that the largest wrestling event in the world will return to the Fargodome at North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D. for two more years.USA Wrestling will present the Asics Tiger Junior Nationals and the Cadet Nationals at the Fargodome in both 1998 and 1999. The Asics Tiger Junior Nationals has been held there for the last five years, with the Cadet Nationals held simultaneously during the last two years.
"We are happy to renew our relationship with North Dakota State University and the City of Fargo, by bringing the world's premier wrestling event back for two more years," said Jim Scherr, Executive Director of USA Wrestling. "The Athletic Department, the wrestling staff, the university community and the city do an outstanding job hosting this competition. We look forward to another two years working together on this spectacular tournament."
The dates for the 1988 Asics Tiger Junior Nationals and the Cadet Nationals will be July 18-25. Over 20 wrestling mats will be set up on the floor of the Fargodome's indoor football facility, and over 3,600 entries are expected during the week. The tournament set numerous entry records in 1997.
The Asics Tiger Junior National Championships feature the best high school wrestlers in the nation, while the Cadet National Championships include the top 15-16-year-old wrestlers in the United States.
"The quality of the organizing committee and the cooperation from the city and the university has made combining our two largest events a smooth and successful transition," said Rich Bender, Director of National Events for USA Wrestling. "The future looks very bright, as we look forward to working with the people of Fargo to improve and expand the event even more."
The Cadet Nationals will be held for the 14th straight year, while the Asics Tiger Junior Nationals enter its 28th year of competition.
These age-group national events have been a showcase of young stars who have gone on to win numerous NCAA, Olympic and World titles. Most of the top U.S. wrestlers in both freestyle and Greco-Roman on the international level competed in the Junior Nationals or Cadet Nationals as youths.
The annual USA Wrestling National Convention, which features meetings, seminars and workshops for wrestling leaders, will also be held during the week.
The Junior National Championships have been held in five sites. The tournament was held in Iowa City, Iowa from 1971-82. It moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa from 1983-90. Other sites were Warrensburg, Mo. in 1991, St. Paul, Minn. in 1992 and Fargo, N.D. from 1993-present.
The Cadet National Championships were first held in Allentown, Mich. in 1986. The event moved to Warrensburg, Mo. in 1987-89. Battle Creek, Mich. hosted the tournament in 1990, and it returned to Warrensburg, Mo. in 1991. The event was then hosted in Columbia, Mo. from 1992-94, Lincoln, Neb. in 1995, and Fargo, N.D. in 1996 and 1997.